It certainly was a glorious day, as Dora had said, and after the sails were set, there was nothing to do but to take it easy on the cushions of the rail seats.  Captain Jerry was at the wheel, but he promised to let each of them “take a trick” in his place before the trip should come to an end.

“I jest wish we had another yacht to race with,” said the old sailor.  “Then I could show ye what sort o’ a clean pair o’ heels the Old Glory could show the other craft.”

“It is easy to see the yacht is speedy,” replied Dick.  “She cuts the water like a thing of life.  And you know just how to get her best speed out of her,” he went on, a remark that pleased old Jerry very much.

“Will we have more breeze, do you think?” asked Tom, later on, as he observed some in clouds to the westward.

“Can’t say as to that, lad.  Those clouds may come this way and they may blow north’ard.  If they come down here, we’ll catch it putty lively.”

“I like a good, stiff breeze,” came from Sam.

“Oh, don’t run us into a storm,” cried Grace in alarm.  “We might all get seasick.”

“Don’t be alarmed,” said Dick.  “We are a very long way from a storm, to my way of thinking.”

The morning passed quickly enough, and at noon they ran into a small harbor on one of the islands and had dinner in true picnic style.  At one o’clock they packed up once more, went on board of the Old Glory, and stood off to the westward, for all wanted a run “right on the ocean,” as Tom expressed it.

Captain Jerry was just a bit doubtful of the trip, for the clouds in the western sky had grown considerably larger than when first noticed.  Not that he did not think the yacht could weather a blow, but he was afraid the young ladies would get seasick.  However, as he did not wish to put a damper on their fun, he said nothing, resolved to turn back at the first sign of any “inward upsettin’,” as he expressed it.

The breeze had increased, and as it was directly from off shore the Old Glory bowled along merrily over the waves.  Nobody showed the least sign of seasickness, and they talked, laughed, and sang as if they had not a care in the world.  Tom also did some fishing, and caught a string of the finny tribe, of which he was justly proud.

“You can bake them for us when we get back,” he said to Nellie.  “And then we can all have a fish party.”

“I could go on sailing like this for a week,” said Dick to Dora, as they moved forward.  “I mean if you were along with me,” he added, in a lower tone, and she gave him a look that meant a good deal.

When three o’clock came Captain Jerry announced that they must turn back.  They were far out of sight of land, with nothing but the blue ocean around them.  Overhead the sky was still clear, but the clouds on the horizon were rapidly increasing.

“Oh, let us keep on a while longer,” pleaded Tom.  “This is just glorious!” And the others said the same.